Welcome all Goolglers and facebookers! This page has almost everything you need to know on how to get a custom skate sharpening and radius using our express mail service. Many skaters are not aware that the steel on their skates is easily removable. This feature has made our mail service a real viable option for skaters who are having trouble getting good sharpenings or a Custom Radius in their local area. Now, before you get started, we strongly suggest you read the Sharpening, Profiling, FBV and Radius Info Pages on this website. They can be accessed from the main menu on the left side of this page. Then perhaps you'll want to glance through the Testimonial pages, that should help put your mind at ease about mailing your blades to us.

Our U.S. Internet Customer Locations

Why should you consider sharpening by mail? First, think about the benefits of our mail service. You'll get perfect, consistent skate sharpenings every time, plus it will save you time and money on gas by not having to drive down to the hockey store for just a sharpening, or having to get to the rink early to wait in line. Think of us like the NETFLIX of skate sharpening, quick service and right to your mailbox. How easy is that! It's even easier when you have a second set of runners to rotate back and forth. Having a backup set of steel has many advantages. You'll have a spare set for emergency breakages (who doesn't know someone who broke a runner and had to leave a game). You'll also have a freshly sharpened pair to take with you to tournaments, or even to those late night games when you lose an edge and the pro shop is closed. If you ever had to only make left turns, or miss the rest of an important game because of blade problems, you know exactly what we mean!
Even if you don't plan on using our sharpening service routinely, having that second set of steel is priceless.

OK, I want you to sharpen and/or get a Custom Radius for my skates, how do I get the process started?

First, read this entire page closely. Most mistakes are made because people are in a rush and didn't read the instructions. Mistakes can be costly. Then, if you haven't done so already, you should visit our sharpening, profiling, FBV and radius pages. There is a wealth of information in them that will give you a clearer idea of just what you'll be getting with your custom sharpening and radius. Then, if still interested, send us an e-mail at noicing@comcast.net and request a Skater Questionnaire Form. We can send it in Word or attach it in an email. After we get your completed form we'll work up a good profile for you. We try to answer every day, but sometimes we can't reply as soon as you'd like, usually because we have many others to answer in front of you or because we are busy processing current orders and just don't have a free moment. Please be patient, we will answer you as soon as we can. Also, if you are not serious about getting a custom radius, please don't waste our time. We get a lot of requests each day for profile inquiries, and you will only be delaying our responses to our serious customers. Thank you. Also, please do not place a order for steel before you get our recommendation for your profile, nor order steel if you don't want a radius. After you hear from us, you can then order your steel and profile at same time.

ONCE WE GET YOUR COMPLETED FORM

We will review and evaluate your answers on the questionnaire, then work up a custom profile for you. The Profile will include the sharpening type (hollow cut, FBV, or A-TRAP), the rocker radius, and the pitch setting we think will work best for you. We will email you back with our recommendations. We've done thousands and thousands of profiles on a wide variety of skaters and have a pretty good data-base of what works for most skaters. Keep in mind, if for some reason you don't like what settings we select for you, you are not stuck with your profile. We give you a full 30 days to try it out! If there is something you don't like, we will gladly make one-time adjustment at no charge.

If you still have questions, you likely will find the answers on our website. If not, we ask that you submit your questions by email instead of calling the store. We do not answer the phone during working hours as we are very busy operating a retail store, sharpening local skates and trying to meet same or next day shipping deadlines for our internet customers. A five-minute phone call may mean that another customer doesn't get their blades shipped that day. Seriously, we don't have time to answer phone calls. Email or facebook is really the best and fastest way to get a response from us because we can answer you during our short lulls. We usually can reply within 15 minutes of getting your email. Also, we monitor our facebook page, No Icing Sports, and you can usually get a response in a few minutes there as well. Thank you.

After you get your custom profile recommendations from us, you then must decide if you will be sending us your blades, or if you will be purchasing new blades from us. We have next business day turn-around, so we'll get your blades shipped back to you quick, but if you can't be without your skates for a few days, getting a second set of steel may be your best option. Please don't ask us for price quotes. All pricing for replacement runners, sharpening and radius services can be found in the shopping area. If you want to know what something costs, place it in the shopping cart. You won't be charged until final checkout. Keep in mind that we are a Custom Radius shop and we only sell replacement runners to customers who are purchasing a Custom Radius. If you just want steel, one of the other online stores that just sells unsharpened steel would be the best place to get them, we don't sell them that way.

REMOVING YOUR STEEL

If you are sending us your blades and need help removing them, it's easy. For Bauers, their new steel has a quick release trigger, pull the trigger and pry at the heel. For other Bauers remove the footbed and remove the white plastic caps. You will see a 8mm nut inside the holders. Simply unscrew the nut (use a 1/4" drive nutdriver with a long extension to make the task easier) and the blade will pull right out. All other brand skates have screws on the outside of the skate, just take them out and pull the blades out. Email noicingtech@comcast.net if you have trouble.

SHIPPING YOUR STEEL

The best way to ship your blades to us is in a Post Office Priority Mail Flat Rate Envelope. Priority Mail is quick, usually 1-3 days anywhere in the country (US Only). You can fit up to 5 sets in one envelope. BE SURE TO SECURE/TAPE YOUR BLADES TO THE INSIDE WALL OF THE ENVELOPE! If they can move around, they WILL cut their way through and we will get an empty envelope. One customer lost $400 worth of steel because he did not tape his runners. We've even seen loose blades cut through cardboard boxes, in fact we lost 12 pairs shipped to us by RBK because they left them loose in the box. Best way to ship them is to put them in a Tyvek envelope, roll it, then tape that roll on a diagonal in the envelope with package tape, not Scotch tape or hockey tape. Please don't wrap blades themselves with tape, it's hard to get tape off the metal and it leaves a sticky residue. Also, there is no need to wrap the blades in duct tape, bubble wrap, or other homemade coverings. It's unnecessary and a real annoyance when we have to spend 10 minutes peeling and cutting through some Fort Knox type covering to get at the blades. A simple Tyvec envelope protects them just fine. We send them all over the world just wrapped in Tyvek. Visit the "How to package your blades for shipping" link in the main menu for detailed instructions.

So you don't have to go to the post office, go to USPS.com and sign up for an online acct. It's free and easy. You can then print postage and labels right on your home printer. If you want to save money and are not in a hurry, you can also ship your blades to us by regular Parcel Post. It's still fairly quick and usually less than $2. Also feel free to ship to us any way you choose, UPS and Fedex Express or ground deliver right to our door. Note: The USPS Flat Rate method you select on our website has no insurance. If you want the extra protection you'll have to send us a label for your order that includes both insurance and signature required. If for some reason your blades are lost, missing or delivered to the wrong address we are not liable to replace them. You must purchase insurance and precautions for your package. Now, we don't want to scare you, most of our customers have no problems sending regular Priority Mail without insurance, but what we want to avoid is you telling us you didn't get your package and expect us to replace it for you. When your postman delivers your package they scan it as it's delivered. If it comes up missing after delivery, then it is not our fault. Even the post office will not honor a claim if their scan shows it was delivered to your address.

PURCHASING NEW STEEL

If you want to buy new blades from us, you may have a choice of several different kinds that will fit in your skates. Browse through our shopping area and see what's available, read the item descriptions carefully to see the differences. For sizing, you will need the blade type and size to ensure a perfect match. NEVER use online guides for sizing that some websites have, they are wrong. The only way to accurately get your blade size is to get it from your skates. On most skates the blade size can be found underneath the skate on the white plastic holder. Look for a 3-digit number embossed in the plastic next to the rivets, like 263, 280, etc. Let us know what that is. If you can't find it, send us an email and we'll help you locate it. Don't guess. Also, for Bauers you need to first see what holder you have. Is it a Tuuk+, a Lightspeed/Lightspeed 2, a Blue Lightspeed Power, LS Power 2.1, or Lightspeed Edge, all of these holders take different type steel. The other skate brands also have multiple choices so just be sure you select the proper version. Before you order, if you're not sure send us a picture of your skate and we'll help you identify the version steel you need. Notice: We absolutely will not not give any refunds or do exchanges if you purchase the wrong steel.

Keep in mind that the price of our blades includes the initial sharpening (not a Custom Radius). You might be able to find steel cheaper elsewhere, but they do not come sharpened. The initial sharpening is very different than a regular sharpening. New skates or replacement steel is just a flat rough cut slab. It takes approx 20-30 minutes minutes of labor to properly sharpen and establish the hollow and edges the very first time a blade is sharpened. This labor is factored into the price of our steel. If you are sending us new steel, it's best for you to get it sharpened before to avoid our extra labor charge. Where you bought them should be doing this anyway for free. Lastly, when comparing online steel prices, be sure to factor in their high shipping and handling fees. You'll likely find in the end, our prices are cheaper. Lastly, sorry we do not sell just steel without a purchase of a custom radius. The steel market is very volatile and shortages occur, for this reason we reserve steel for our radius customers only.

PLACING YOUR ORDER and PAYMENT OPTIONS

Once we've worked up your profile and have given you the specs, you'll need to place your order. Simply go to the secure 24-hr Shopping Area accessed from our main menu or direct at www.SkateRescueService.com and place your order. Order the runners that fit in your skates, again verify you are ordering the correct ones. Then order the type radius and/or sharpening, entering the specs we gave you in the drop down menus. Make sure if you are ordering steel you read the item description. The price of runners does NOT include a Custom Radius, so you have to order that separately. Complete the order and check out. Double check that everything is correct. Whatever you select and order, we are going to do and we are going to ship them fast.

Pay attention here.... PAYMENT OPTIONS. In order for us to accept your credit card for payment it has to be a real credit card, not a gift or temporary one, your shipping address must be your billing address. We ship to the billing address only. If you want the package delivered to other than the billing address, like your work, simply contact your credit card company and have them add that address to your account. Because of credit card fraud, it is too risky for us to send items to other than billing address. In the past, a customers mail rooms have lost the package and they decided they are going to stiff us even though it was no fault of ours. Of course if you send us cash, a money order, or bank check in advance we will gladly ship anywhere. For payment options, we take Visa, Mastercard and Discover. No personal checks please, unless you don't mind waiting 2 weeks for them to clear. International customers, please email us for payment options and shipping options.

Upon receiving proper payment, we will complete the order and ship the blades the following work day by Priority Mail. We prefer to send all blades by Priority Mail because this is the cheapest and fastest way. Coast to Coast in usually 3 days, and they deliver on Saturdays. Unlike other hockey web sites, we do not make any money on shipping or have handling charges. If you want UPS Ground or Over-nite service, that option is available for envelope packages only. For Fedex you have to fax or email us a label. Orders must be in by 3pm in order to be sent Over-nite.(Keep in mind that we can only ship same day if your order is completed in time. Sometimes there may be many other orders in front of yours) If you want to send us a prepaid shipping label, feel free to do so, again, if you are paying by credit card, your shipping address has to match your billing address. Also, be sure to select the signature required option, we do not ship without this. We can't be responsible for lost packages when UPS or Fedex leaves them outside on your steps or door. Please, do not send stamped envelopes! The post office will not allow us to put a stamped envelope of this weight in our mailbox, they require it be hand delivered to a person at the post office, and we just can't do this. In addition we require delivery tracking and stamps do not have this safeguard.

Please, this is an online store, ABSOLUTELY NO TELEPHONE ORDERS! We do not have the staff to take phone calls. We operate a retail store and are helping customers here virtually all day long. All orders MUST be placed through our WebStore. For security purposes we are also no longer allowed to take credit card info over the phone. If you have to ask a unique question before ordering, send an email or facebook message, we will usually answer them within 15 minutes. You can also use our Chat service on our webstore, www.skaterescueservice.com

STEEL AVAILABILITY and WHAT STEEL SHOULD YOU CHOOSE

We carry most replacement blades for current and old model skates, and try to have them in stock year round. We also stock various choices in runners, all that will fit your skates. We can't tell you which to choose, all are very good, some are premium. The premium blades cost a bit more and generally, the ones that cost more, perform better and hold edges longer. If you plan on keeping your skates for a long time, the premium blades are a wise investment and will more than pay for themselves in the long run. Still, the regular steel is just fine, so upgrading is not really needed for the average recreational player. We normally have runners in stock for Tuuk+, Lightspeed, Lightspeed 2, Lightspeed Power, Lightspeed 2.1 Power, Lightspeed 3, LS2 Fusion, Fusion Edge, LS2 Edge, LS3 Edge, LS4, Prolite, E Pro, RBZ, Easton Razor and Mako, Graf and much more in aftermarket brands, plus all goal steel!

Some skates do not have replaceable steel, so if you are interested in getting a custom radius, you will have to ship the skates to us. We have same day turnaround.

SENDING YOUR STEEL and HOW TO PLACE YOUR FIRST ORDER

Any time you send blades to us, don't forget to place the online order, and make sure the blades are not moving around inside the package. For complete packaging instructions, see our "How to Package Your Steel for Shipping" page located in our main menu. Write your name on the envelope or on a note inside. Better yet, after you order online, just print out the order form and enclose it in your envelope. We have many customers and get lots of steel each day in the mail. We can expedite your work if we know what you want done. If you want something different or something that couldn't be selected in the shopping cart, just write details on your order form, and we'll contact you by email if we have any questions or to quote you a price. If you moved or have a new credit card, you can enter that information when you complete your online checkout. Again, it is critical that your credit card information is correct and that the ship-to address is the same as your credit card billing address. Look at your credit card statement, that's the address we have to ship to. Our address is: 4 Hudson Park Dr, Suite A, Hudson, NH 03051

Here's a quick step by step guide on how to place your first order:

1. Enter Shopping Area from the main menu on left side of page or type www.skaterescueservice.com in your browser's location bar.

2. Select the type Radius we recommended. You'll have 3 options, Sharpened Steel, Unsharpened steel, and buying new steel, select the one that applies to you. Then enter the radius specs we gave you in the drop down menus. Please select only one sharpening method, FBV, hollow or ZC, NOT all three. Select "None" for the other 2 sharpening methods. Add to shopping cart.

3. If you are purchasing steel, Select the type runners that fit in your skates and enter the correct size. Be sure to read item description to ensure it's right for your skates. If you order wrong steel it is not refundable. If you're not sure email us and we'll help you select the correct one.

4. Add to Shopping Cart.

Proceed to checkout. You should have one radius in the cart per 1 pair of runners. Also, if you need any small accessories like laces or skate screws, etc, if you order them along with your steel and they can fit in the same envelope, there will be no extra shipping charges.

5. Complete billing information and submit your order. Note: we only ship to billing addresses, so this is where your blades will be shipped. Also, we have no control over the credit card payment service. If your card is declined, it likely is because the billing address, zip code, CC number, or CCV number does not match what's on file with your bank. Verify that your information is correct and resubmit. You would not believe how many people try to order on expired cards as well. So, if your card is not accepted, we can't do anything here, nor are we able to take it over the phone. New security laws prevent us from even knowing the card number.

6. If you completed the order, you'll receive an order confirmation email from us. Review and check it immediately. If you made a mistake send us a email and we cancel the order if you reach us before we process and ship. Note: We will not always notice or notify you that your order is incorrect. We get so many incorrect orders that we just do not have the time or staff to verify each one. Most common mistakes are: not ordering a radius, ordering wrong type runner, ordering wrong size runner, and using a credit card that is not linked to the shipping address. If you have read this page in entirety, it is very unlikely you will submit a wrong order.

When you get your steel from us, when unwrapping be careful, do not let the two blades hit each other. They can lose their edge just from light casual contact. Be sure to use skate guards to protect your edges!Lastly, If you think there is a problem with your blades, do not skate on them, do not have someone else sharpen them. Please contact us first. Also, do not send them back until you contact us. Many people do not understand what a radiused blade looks like and they complain and send their blades back unnecessarily. If you've read our profiling information pages on our website, you'll have a better idea what to expect with your custom radius. Many radius changes can NOT be seen with the eye, so don't assume if they look the same as when you sent them that we didn't radius them. Thank you.

Many of our customers rotate two or more sets of blades so they are never without a freshly sharpened set. This seems to work best for most skaters. Also, if you have teammates that use our service, why not send your blades together like many do and SAVE on postage. Lastly, we've been running our Sharpen by Mail Service since 2003 and ship out thousands of blades to happy customers every year. Our process works very well for those who do not have an experienced reliable sharpener in their area. Give us a try, you won't be disappointed. Spoiled is what most skaters say, after they've had us do their sharpenings! Thanks again for your business. If you like our website be sure to visit our facebook page and "Like" it there. You can also contact us through our facebook page, No Icing Sports.